Compare towns
Thetford vs Ossipee vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Thetford has grown the fastest since 2010 (+7.2%).
Ossipee has the most renters (18% rent).
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($431k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Thetford | Ossipee | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,813 |
4,521Highest |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
50±4.6 29% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.3%±5.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ossipee and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,500±$96k about the U.S. average |
$325,500±$23kLowest about the U.S. average |
$431,300±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,141±$96 19% below U.S. |
$1,601±$245Highest 13% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,948 123% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$7,149Highest 129% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford and Thetford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #40 of 70 in VT | #100 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Thetford School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.